33) TransPac 2011 delivery e/m's 20

Hi guys,

The TP organizers finalized the start dates Friday evening.  We start on the
8th.  Apparently 12 boats objected to the 2 starts, however, the race
committee did not care.  So you & your girlfriends/wives can make plans
based on the July 8 start.  For those of you who have not done this before,
there are parties & things to do in Long Beach & Hawaii.  We can get people
on spectator boats at both ends.  Day time in LB is full with practice but
nights are open.  In Hawaii all time is free.

This is the 1st time I have had slow crew sign-up.  It has been difficult to
find qualified guys with the financial wherewithal.  Sign of the times I
guess.  I am talking to 2 guys right now & will let you know as I make
progress.

The boat is hauled and work has virtually stopped because of the tsunami
damage to the harbors here.  If we were done & ready to drop back in the
water right now the Coast Guard would not let us move because of all the
dangerous stuff in the water.  Parts of boats, complete sunken boats, docks,
you name it and it is floating on or below the surface.  If the yard help
can't get to us I will do it myself.  We will stay on schedule for delivery.
I know you all have your tickets.

Aloha,
    gib

Gib,

Thanks for the links.

Now more questions:

1) In the past you stated that S/V CM had a slip at Kaneohe but a storm blew the docks out.  When?
2) Does she swing on a mooring ball now since the docks got damaged?
3) Did you go clockwise or counter-clockwise to transit from Kaneohe to Ke'ehi for the bottom-job?
4) Do you have a GPS track file?  

3/17/11

Hey guys,

My work in the yard is complete other than the new rudder bearings are not
on island yet.  All rudder & drive shaft bearings needed replacement.  Keel
bolts were good.  Bottom looks good.

All I have left to do is pay them.  Next week is the raft payment & ports
removal, following week is more.  The point is money has gone much faster
than it has been coming in. 

THANK YOU.

Next note is on start dates, yes again/still.

   gib

If you haven't heard, John Jordane resigned from the Transpac board yesterday over Bill's handling of the starting issue we brought up.  Siting lack of any honest discussion and general mis-organization without any attempt of serving the needs of the racers, he has taken a loud and very public stand.  See his letter at SailingAnarcy.com along with that web site's editorial.  His email was addressed to Bill Lee and my owner and cc'd to all the other board members.

It's time, maybe the last possible time to voice your opinions...this time the place to do it is in the sailing anarchy forums.  If this is important to you, leave postings, have your crew members leave postings, call other boat owners in our rating band who may not be aware of the struggle going on.  We can affect the outcome of the decision.  John was not the only person inside of Transpac who supports the Wednesday start concept, but the wizard has his agenda, (bowing to the big boats at our expense) and he has done a good job of obscuring the issues and squashing discent and true discussion.  Still there is no public decision and announcement as to who starts when, what is that mystical dividing line in their current scheme?  At the very least we all need to know that so we can get on with arrangements for what will still be an exciting race with one of the best 50 foot classes in memory.

I've had phone conversations with both Bill and Dan Nolan of US Sailing and it's like talking to a wall.  Considering the truly world changing events going on around us on this planet this in perspective seems quite trivial, but it is our world, and our sport that we all love to participate in.
Jon Shampain
Eastwind Offshore Sailing